Sometimes the problem isn't the talent market - It's hurdles in the recruitment process.

By the time an innovative IoT business in Newcastle came to us for support with their recruitment, they were understandably frustrated. Three different recruitment agencies had already had a shot at filling their vacancy.

All three had failed to make a hire.

Confidence in external recruiters was at an all-time low, and the client was beginning to question whether the role was simply unfillable.

It would have been easy to jump straight into sourcing more candidates - instead, we knew we needed to start somewhere else.

Before we went to the market, we took the time to understand exactly what success in the role looked like. Not just the technical skills required, but the type of person who would fit the business, work effectively with the existing team and begin adding value from day one.

At the same time, we looked at the recruitment process itself.

It quickly became clear that the challenge wasn't entirely external:

• CV feedback was taking too long.

• Interviews were difficult to schedule.

• Good candidates were losing momentum before decisions had been made.

Rather than accepting the existing process, we worked with the client to simplify it before beginning the search:

• Two interview dates were agreed in advance over a two-week period.

• Hiring managers committed to rapid feedback.

• Everyone involved understood the timeline from the outset.

With a clear and agreed process in place, we could focus on what we do best. Within five days, a targeted shortlist of candidates who matched both the technical requirements and the culture of the business.

The role was successfully filled shortly afterwards - and importantly, confidence in the recruitment process was restored - a wobble that could have so easily held their business growth back otherwise.

Ben Woodward, Co-Founder of Accelero, said:

"When several agencies have already failed, it's tempting to assume there simply aren't any suitable candidates for the role. In reality, successful recruitment is usually a combination of finding the right people and creating a hiring process that allows you to secure them. Both sides of that equation matter."

What began as a single difficult assignment has since developed into an ongoing partnership, with us continuing to support the business as it grows.

The best recruitment outcomes don't come from sending more CVs. They come from understanding the role properly, working collaboratively with clients and building a better recruitment process that gives good candidates every opportunity to say yes.

If recruitment has stalled despite working with multiple agencies, the answer may not be starting again. It may be taking a different approach from the start.

Struggling to fill your latest vacancy? There is an easier way.